I have a confession to share. (affresh)

I’m going to admit to something that people don’t like to talk about.  Are you ready? 

Our washing machine gets stinky sometimes.  Like icky stinky.  I hate it.  Makes me feel stinky. 

I feel a lot better saying it (writing it) and coming clean about this.  I don’t want to live in silence anymore. 

Plus, we’ve maybe had “enthusiastic conversations” about did we maybe not take the laundry out of the washer quickly enough, or forgot it and that’s where the stink is from, and if I can save one other couple from that fun conversation, well, I’ve done my job well.  I’m hoping that using affresh will help alleviate the stinkies.  I don’t know if its our hard well water, the water softener we have to use, or just residue build up, but YUCK.  (Please note this isn’t an all the time thing, but it’s happened a few times). 

Normally I run a wash cycle or 2 with some white vinegar but it wasn’t enough this last time. 

So, I figured since I have this new affresh washer cleaner, this would be a great time to try it.

We don’t have a “big” stink issue right now, although that can be remedied with the affresh product.  I just used one tablet of the affresh on a normal cycle with an extra rinse to boot, and now my washer smells like daisies.  Roses.  Or maybe just like nothing.  No smell, no odor.  Just like, um… air.  Like plain washers should smell, or rather, shouldn’t smell. 

So far, so good.  A non scented, non stinky washer, and a happy mama to date.  I’m kind of feeling like the affresh is like a clarifying shampoo but for your washing machine. 

We’ll see.  I’ll be using it again in a few weeks, as directed, for maintenance.  At least I don’t have to scrub the washer by hand :o)

What do you do when your washer stinks?  Don’t dare tell me that all of you have a washer that has NEVER stunk no not even once because I’ll be mortified that I admitted my dirty secret.  Share your tips!!  Please?

Some facts about affresh:

What?

In an effort to combat odor-causing residue that can accumulate in all brands of high-efficiency (HE) and traditional top-load washing machines, Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR), the industry leader in laundry, developed Affresh® Power Puck™ tablets, a simple, yet effective product to help clean and prevent residue build-up. As the leader that introduced large-capacity, front-load laundry to the United States, Whirlpool is the pioneer for this new washer cleaning technology that is changing the industry.

Why?

All brands of washers have the potential for odor-causing residue build-up if not properly cleaned on a regular basis. To ensure maximum performance, Whirlpool recommends a monthly maintenance and cleaning routine detailed in the product’s Use & Care Guide. With Affresh® Power Puck™ tablets, consumers have even more cleaning power to help resolve or prevent the build-up of odor-causing residue.

How?

Affresh® washer cleaner helps remove and prevent odor-causing residue build-up that can accumulate in all brands and configurations of washers. The oxygenated bubbling action of Affresh® Power Puck™ tablets penetrates and dissolves unseen residue, providing a more effective cleaning option than bleach alone.

If used once a month, Affresh® washer cleaner pouch prevents odor-causing residues from accumulating. Heavily soiled washers may require repeated treatments to remove traces of odor and residue. In this case, Whirlpool recommends running three successive washer cleaning cycles with one Affresh® Power Puck™ tablet in each.

For HE models, Whirlpool offers the Affresh® washer cleaning kit with three Power Puck™ tablets and six Grit Grabber™ cloths. Due to their more efficient design, HE washers seal more tightly and use less water than traditional top-load models, increasing the potential for residue build-up. The Affresh washer cleaning kit removes and prevents odor in areas that cannot be reached – such as behind the washer drink – and in areas that can be reached, such as around the rubber door seal and detergent dispenser. The hypoallergenic Grit Grabber™ cloths remove odor-causing build-up and lock it into the cloth.

Availability:

Retailers nationwide including Sears, Best Buy and Lowe’s, as well as supermarkets and www.affresh.com. The Affresh® products are available via a subscription through the Web site to help consumers save time and money.

 “I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of affresh and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”